When to Turn the Steering Wheel When Reversing Out of a Parking Space?
2 Answers
When reversing out of a parking space, turning the steering wheel is as follows: 1. Observe the frontmost part of the car and the boundary line ahead. Turn the steering wheel fully to the left when the front of the car just covers the boundary line. 2. Look at the left rear wheel through the left rearview mirror. Turn the steering wheel fully to the left when the left rear wheel just touches the line. 3. When the car is about to straighten, turn the steering wheel back half a turn. Let the car move forward for about one meter, then turn the steering wheel fully to the left again until reaching the stopping point. Reversing: 1. First exit: Drive slowly and straight. When you see the left rear wheel touching the line in the left rearview mirror, turn the steering wheel fully to the left (one and a half turns) until the car body roughly aligns with the path, then hold the steering wheel steady. 2. Second exit: Drive slowly and straight. When you see the right rear wheel touching the line in the right rearview mirror, turn the steering wheel fully to the right (one and a half turns). When the car body is almost parallel to the path, turn the steering wheel back half a turn, and fully straighten it when completely parallel.
The timing of steering when reversing out of a parking space depends on the position of the rear of the car and the speed. I usually start by reversing slowly to ensure there are no people or obstacles behind. When the rear of the car starts to exit the parking space by about half a meter to one meter, I then turn the steering wheel toward the exit direction. Turning too early can cause the car to steer sharply, making it easy to scrape against walls or adjacent cars; turning too late can result in the car exiting with improper alignment, affecting adjustments. For larger vehicles like SUVs, which have more space, it's better to turn slightly later to avoid wheelbase issues, while smaller cars can turn earlier. When practicing, try it a few times in an empty parking space, remembering to control the throttle slowly and avoid rushing. Safety comes first—observe the mirrors more, and it’s even better with camera assistance. With experience, the timing will naturally become second nature.
